One of the cries of woe that emanate from homeowner associations is the fact that they seem unable to solicit volunteers to serve on committees and boards. It is my perception that working committees or better still a Task Force makes great breeding grounds for future directors. First they allow the volunteer to make a significant contribution without endless weeks or months of unrewarding work and secondly they prepare the volunteer for higher office. Many people live in associations that do not seem to welcome members to the association. Let’s face when things go wrong unhappiness seeps out of the woodwork in the form of angry owners intent on unseating or worse the present board of directors. Holding town hall meetings to discuss changes of direction in an association can be invigorating, and draw new blood to management. Repainting for instance, will often draw a crowd as will raising the dues significantly, as do rule changes or the rewriting of governing documents. So it is my contention that seeking member input even on perhaps minor matters will bring in people. People don’t care what we know, but want to know that we care. A relatively simple task will reveal the particular skills of a member or their interest or attributes that will allow the board to recommend that person for higher office. Being hand picked as a director is a boatload more welcoming than reading that the association needs volunteers.
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